Friday, April 19, 2024
4/19/2024
The Fulton County Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) proposes a program to increase engagement in care for Black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) ages 18-40 with substance use disorders (SUD) and/or co-occurring substance use and mental disorders (COD) who are at risk for HIV or who are HIV positive and receiving HIV services/treatment in Fulton County, Georgia. Data from the US Census shows the combined population of the service area is 1,010,420 and 44.1% are Black/African-American; 45% White non-Hispanic; 7.4% Hispanic/Latino; and Asian 6.7%. Epidemiologists at the Georgia Department of Health estimate that there are 17,316 MSM residing in Fulton County and further document that 9,983 were HIV positive in 2017. DBHDD will be responsible for financial and program administration and oversight. DBHDD will hire all staff for the Fulton County Community Linkage Adherence Support Services (CLASS) program. DBHDD will oversee the day-to-day operations of the CLASS program and work, in collaboration with its partners (Fulton County Board of Health [FCBOH], River Edge, and CHRIS180) to provide safe and appropriate services to Black and Latino MSM with SUD/COD who are at risk for HIV or are HIV positive and receiving HIV services/treatment. DBHDD, through service provider partners (River Edge and CHRIS 180), will provide evidence-based SUD/COD treatment and recovery support services to individuals at risk for or living with HIV, including screening/assessment, outpatient services, intensive outpatient services, and the use of FDA-approved medication for the treatment of SUD/COD. Newly diagnosed Black and Latino MSM and those previously diagnosed but lost to care and found through outreach will receive professional social work services that will mitigate social and behavioral health barriers to linkage and retention to HIV care. FCBOH will use A youth focused case management intervention to engage and retain young gay men of color in care to deliver intensive case management services to promote engagement and retention in care. FCBOH will provide direct services (Ryan White funded HIV treatment and HIV testing) through its Sexual Health Clinic as well as viral hepatitis B and C on site testing and referrals to treatment. CLASS goals include: 1) increasing engagement and re-engagement in care for Black and Latino MSM with SUD/COD who are at risk for HIV or are HIV positive and receiving HIV services and treatment and 2) increasing retention in care rates and viral suppression rates among the POF. DBHDD plans to serve a minimum of 500 Black and Latino MSM ages 18-40 with SUD/COD who are at risk for HIV or who are HIV positive and receiving HIV services/treatment in Fulton County, Georgia over the five year grant period (72 in year 1 and 107 annually years 2-5).
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
